Lipscomb Athletics is at the head of the class with over 90% of student athletes earning 3.0 GPA or higher for the first time

Kim Chaudoin  |  07/14/2025

In a year marked by significant accomplishments on the competition field such as the men’s basketball team’s second trip to the NCAA tournament, a fourth NCAA appearance for women’s soccer and numerous ASUN gold medal performances by the men’s and women’s indoor and outdoor track and field teams to name a few, Lipscomb University’s student-athletes have also proven they’re champions in the classroom.

For the first time in program history, over 90% of all Bison student-athletes — 244 out of 271 — earned a 3.0 GPA or higher for the 2024-25 academic year. Even more impressively, the average GPA among all Bison student-athletes for the spring 2025 semester reached 3.55, another all-time high.

This outstanding academic performance is a result of not only the dedication of Lipscomb’s student-athletes to their studies, but also to the collaborative ecosystem that surrounds them.

“This doesn’t happen by accident,” said Grace Ann Miller, associate athletics director for student success and senior women’s administrator. “It’s the hard work of our student athletes, the support of faculty who believe in them, coaches who set high expectations and our Academic and Student Athlete Development team who are with them every step of the way.”

The academic support structure within Lipscomb Athletics is led by Miller and includes Morgan Mitchell, director of academic services; Aaron Burtch, academic advisor and NCAA certification officer; and Scott McKenzie, assistant director of compliance and student athlete success. Together, they deliver intentional, high-touch support tailored to each student’s unique needs, from freshman year to life after college athletics.

Among this year’s top academic honors, five Lipscomb student-athletes were named ASUN Scholar-Athletes, a distinction that recognizes individuals who excel both academically and athletically:

• Makenzie Barnett, Women’s Cross Country
• Jacob Ognacevic, Men’s Basketball
• Sofiia Paladi, Women’s Tennis
• Levi Streeval, Men’s Outdoor Track & Field
• Jaron Leasure, Men's Golf

Student athletes who were named to ASUN All-Academic teams in their sport during the 2024-25 school year include:

• Baseball: Parks Bouck, David Coppedge
• Basketball: (men’s) Joe Anderson, Jacob Ognacevic, Will Pruitt; (women’s): Bella Vinson
• Cross Country: (men’s) Ben Butcher, Levi Streeval; (women’s): Mackenzie Barnett
• Golf: (men’s) Jaron Leasure; (women’s): Lauren Thompson
• Soccer: (men’s) Daniel Stampatori, Luca Naumann; (women’s): Kiara Pralle
• Tennis (women’s): Sofiia Paladi
• Track & Field:
  • Indoor Track - Colbi Borland, Braedon Palmer, Trey Haralson, Brady Yingst, Gavin Bacus, Mackenzie Barnett, Liza Corso, Anna Richardson
  • Outdoor Track - Braedon Palmer, Brady Yingst, Trey Haralson, Liza Corso, Hannah Wright, Anna Richardson, Mackenzie Barnett
• Volleyball: Meg Mersman

In addition, Jacob Ognacevic, Will Pruitt and Bella Vinson were honored as Division I-AAA Athletics Directors Association Scholar-Athletes. 

Student athletes named to College Sports Communicators Academic All-District teams are:

• Basketball: (men's) Charlie Williams; (women's) Bella Vinson, Claira McGowan, Jalyn Holcomb, Ainhoa Cea
• Golf: (men's) Jaron Leasure, Minas Manias, Alejandro Rodriguez, Jack Morris, Sam Potter; (women's) Casey Yu, Lauren Thompson, Katya Tibbetts Tzunami Polito
• Soccer: (men's) Seth Highfield, Luca Naumann, Daniel Stampatori, Tyler Stinnett, Camilo Estrada, Keegan Yorke; (women’s) Alivia Carapazza, Kiara Pralle
• Softball: Laine Barefoot, Alyssa Hastings, Macey Ogle, Brenna Sherman, Elle Smith
• Tennis: (men's) Juan Lambisano, Facundo Perlav, Antoine Testuad; (women's) Sofiia Paladi;
• Volleyball: Sophia Hudepohl, Meg Mersman, Addi Pelham, Libby Steinhart

Student athletes named to College Sports Communicators Academic All-American teams are:

• Soccer (women's) Kiara Pralle

Four members of the women's golf team were named Women’s Golf Coaches Association Scholar All-American this year. They are Casey Yu, Lauren Thompson, Katya Tibbetts, Tzunami Polito and Bridget Craig.

Supporting student success goes beyond study halls and academic advising, Miller said. Lipscomb Athletics has developed robust student development initiatives that equip athletes for life after graduation. This includes panel discussions featuring alumni who offer candid insights about transitioning from sport to the workforce and events like a women-in-leadership session for female athletes that featured Michelle Kennedy, Nashville Predators CEO; Margaret Behm, partner at Dodson Parker Behm and Capparella and member of the Women in Sports Council, led by Miller along with Taylor Bowen, women’s basketball player and rising Student Athelete Academic Council.

“It is important to remember that our athletes are still students, even if the college sports landscape sometimes makes it feel otherwise. We know the landscape of college athletics is constantly evolving with things like the transfer portal and NIL, but our commitment to setting our student athletes up for success never changes,” said Miller. “Whether they’re here one year or four, we want to make sure they leave Lipscomb prepared.”

One of the most innovative enhancements to academic support this year was the addition of Canvas Observer Access, which allows the academic staff to monitor course progress in real-time, enabling early intervention when students begin to struggle. It’s an advancement that Miller says has been a “game changer” for retention and support, made possible by a university-wide commitment to student success.

The efforts are resonating across programs, including with women’s golf, which achieved the highest team GPA for the fourth consecutive year with an average 3.91 this spring, with six of the nine players having a perfect 4.0. Head Coach Shannon O’Brien said that every year her student athletes seek to do the best they can in the classroom. The program has had over 30 different players earn and become Women’s Golf Coaches Association Scholar All-Americans.

“It’s a team standard to pursue excellence both on and off the course. Our golf girls take a lot of pride in being diligent and maximizing their studies,” said O’Brien. “They have learned to manage their ‘fringe hours’ incredibly well around tournament play, practices and early morning weights. They have done an incredible job representing what a NCAA student-athlete is all about.”

Athletic Director Philip Hutcheson sees the academic success of Bison student athletes as a reflection of the university’s larger mission.

“This accomplishment reflects our department’s mission — ‘Highest Level, Higher Calling.’ It underscores our commitment to not only achieving excellence in athletic performance, but also pursuing a deeper purpose rooted in our faith,” said Hutcheson. “This year’s academic achievements prove once again that our student-athletes aren’t just rising to the challenge — they’re setting the standard.”

Lipscomb’s commitment to whole-person development is also evident in its focus on spiritual formation, led by Chris Klotz, director, and Addi Pelham, assistant director, as well as its growing mentorship programs. Initiatives such as an international student-athlete mentorship network and a budding alumni-to-athlete mentorship effort spearheaded by Lipscomb volleyball alumna Kailee Bass (’23) are strengthening the community and creating lasting connections beyond sport.

“The academic honors are exciting, but what’s even more meaningful is seeing our students grow into who they’re called to be on the field, in the classroom and beyond,” said Miller. “That’s what makes Lipscomb different. That’s what makes this work so rewarding.”